Scaffold



T. G. D] SANTI "scAFFoLn May 10, 1949.

3 Sheeis-Shet 1 Filed June .21, 1946 INVENTOR. Thomas Q Di Sqnti By OZAwh HTTOP/VE/j -r. G. Dl SIANTI -SCAFFOLD i5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1946 INVENTOR. Thomas 9. Di Sanii HTTOF/VEYJ Patented May 10, 1949 Application June-21,1946,

'13 Claims. (01. 304-18 P This invention relates:to scaiiolds,- and more particularly to the and holding same at any desired height.

One object of the invention is to-provide a re-- leasable gripping or brake unit which may be adjustable scaiicld-s asused in connection with well as with passenger'and' freight elevatorsin the home, oifice. or factory buildings.

Another object of the v'iriven'tiori isthe provision of a scaffold which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, andwhich is reliable and safe in operation.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a scaffold or other"upanddown movabledevice whichis providedwith'a readily operable braking means-forholding such device and permitting said 'devicesto be-'moved only when the brake means is released.

Other objects-and advantages will appear as the nature of the improvements is better under"- stood, the invention consisting substantially in the novel arrangement and co-relation'or parts herein fully described,-and illustrated in the accompanying" drawing's, wherein similar reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, and-then finally characters are used to pointed out and specifically-defined and indicated in the appended claims.-

The disclosure made the present inventive concept suggests a practical embodimentthereof, but the inventioni's not to be restricted to tive standpoint. y

In carrying'out. one embodiment of the'present invention it was foundde'sirableto provide a scaffold having releasablebrakeshoes or jaws which are forced "against the vertical posts of the scaifold' by'the' weight. of the platform to hold same at any adjusted height and to provide means for'releasiiig the said brakes to permit the scaffold to be moved.

The invention will appear more'clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing by way of 'exarnple o'ne embodiment of the inventive idea In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentalelevaticnal front View of a scaffold constructed in accordance with the present invention; v

Figure 2 is a front View in elevation of one of the gripping units "used in the-scaffold construction.

Figure 3 is aplan-view of said unit looking from the top of Figure-2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view-taken on line 4--4 of Figure 2;

means for releasably-grippingthe basis of exemplifying the exact details of this disclosure, and the latter therefore is to be understood from an illustrative rather than a restric-- Serial Not easiest T1 Figure 5 is a hail" t ters on line 5--5 Figur'e -2 at -ai i Figure *6 is an elevational the bottom of Figure 5: K Figure 7 is .a tragmental view taken online' l e-1 s Figure 8 is: a perspective view brake shoesor jaws;

Figure 9 is view" scaffold and showing' mea'gns: for supporting and. raising the-scaffold units upontheir postsi Figure 10 is a fragmntal: sectional on line Ill-40 of Figure-9; an

enlar 6. scale;

Figure 11 is atop planview or one unitjoi the; 1 scaffold supporting-meansused when raisirigsaid Referring now-to the drawings in detail l5 dicates a scaffold 'which pmprises two'aline d tubular posts H3 at the-left and two similar posts ii at the right, onlyone'pf each being; shown in Figure 1. Each-pair of "postsl6 and {I are pro vided with a gripping or brake unityld; said; brake: unitsbeing identical in construction and'corn prise "a pair of sleeves respective posts. The top ends and 2B are connected to each other Icy-means of straps 2i welded to said sleeve ends, tom of said sleeves being to eachother' near spaced; apart strips near their.;right ends; the Said strips leaving, a space 28 between theme Located above andtral vertical leg 30 and a liorizont-aleross'bar 3i. The vertical rib- 30 has weldedtheretoa leg 32 'at the left and a similar leg, aiatfthe right thereof;

the said legs 'slidably eiitending-into the respec tive spaces 25 and 28'. The;-leg-3"2 has a-n open ing 34 near itsbottomiand the leg 33 hasa similar opening 35 similarly located {see Figure- 2) The platforms 29 areprovidedtorsupport the scaffold planking 36 shown-'inFigur-e l;

and to lower: same,-.-aspring steel bars 3'|-"-38 arepivoted-respectively at 31* and 38*- with their respective upperends protruding through the openings and'35 in the platform legs and their respectivelower ends in engagement with tapered openings Bil -+40 in respectively similari- A clamping or it/edging; jaws 41-42. 'The said jaws--( 'see'Figs-r 2, 5; 6 and; 8 are provided with serrated--01- threaded "semi circular openings 43 'the: outer surfaces or their posts: IS'orAl'Ti The t' i ieij terseview looking from "o ient-inner Stetson; i. I dresser/the looking ire-mo s "side S'oi view tal nn [9-20 slidablje on-their of the sleeves i9 i b hsimilarly; connected by straps 22." The straps?! and 22 are connected" ositioned between the" straps 2! is a platform 29 which is substantially T-shaped in crosssection and comprisesa cen for locking engagement with;

said jaws are further provided with inclined slots 4445 which engage inclined tongues 46-41 on respective plates 48 and 49 welded to the straps 22. The jaws 4| and 42 contact their respective posts through cut-outs '50 and 5| in the sleeves I 9 and 20, respectively.

Normally, the weight of the platforms planking, as well as the people and material supported on the planking, is transferred to the outer upper ends of the spring rods 31 and 38 which causes an upward pressure on the jaws thus tending to move them upwardly on the inclined tongues 45 and 41 and cause the serrated opening surfaces 43 to tightly hug the said posts from the inside and simultaneously wedging same against the insideofthe sleeves -I9 and 20.

To release the jaws from wedging engagement with the upright posts, there is provided a lever 52 pivotedly mounted at 53 on a vertical strip 54. The-outer or left end of the lever 52 has pivotally secured thereto at 55 a link 56 guided for vertical'movement in an extension 51 of the sleeve I9. Upon the exertion of an upward pull on the'upper end of the link 55, the lever 52 will swing upon its pivot 53 and cause the slotted inner end 52 to exert a pressure against a pin 58 thus swinging a plate 59' about its pivot 99. The pin 58 carries a pawl 6| pressed into engagement with one of the four teeth of a ratchet wheel 62 by means of a spring 63. When the plate59 is thus swung about its pivot 59 in the direction of the arrow 64 the pawl will ride idly for a distance of 90 degrees until it engages the next tooth, then upon a downward pressure upon the link 56 the plate 59 will be swung in the direction of the arrow 65. The ratchet wheel 62 and plate 66 rotate as a unit either with or about the pivot 60. This swinging of the plate will through the pawl 6| push or rotate the ratchet wheel through an angular distance of 90'degrees and carry with it a'plate 66 one end of which will contact the underside of the rods 31 and 38 thus causing a lifting of said rods and a downward push upon the jaws 4| and 42. Inasmuch as the said jaws are slidably mounted on the inclined tongues 46 and 41 a downward movement of said jaws will release the serrated surfaces from contact with the posts and the scaffold will move downwardly until the lever 52 is again swung up and down to break the contact between the plate 66 and rods 31 and 38 to permit the weight of the scaffold to operate the said rods to again wedge the shoes or jaws against the posts.

As an extra precautionary measure, and to insure against unwarranted or accidental operation of the wedge or brake mechanism, the link 56 is provided with a pair of holes 56*, one for each position of the link for the reception of a pin 51 which bears against the projection 51 and prevents downward movement of the link 59 as long as the pin 5! is in position.

The scaffold is reinforced by means of angle irons 68 and 69' suitably connected to extension plates welded to the respective posts It and I1, the sleeves I9 and 29 being slotted at H to clearithe extension plates 10 in the up and down movement of the said sleeves.

In order to raise the scafiold and support same while so doing. two upper brake units I5 are arranged respectively on each pair of posts l6 and I! in a similar manner to the lower brake units I8, one such upper unit being shown in Figures 9 and 11.

Each of-the upper units comprises a pair of sleeves 16 adapted to slide on the respective posts I6 and IT. The said sleeves are connected to each other by means of a steel strap 11 welded to them. The sleeves I6 are each provided with a cut-out 18 in the area where the strap W is welded to them, the said cut-outs are provided for the reception or passage and operation of brake shoes or jaws 19. The brake shoes are slidably mounted on inclined slideways securely welded to the strap 11, the arrangement of the shoes 19 and slideways 80 being similar to that of the lower jaws 4| and 42 and slideways 45 and 47. Like the lower brake jaws, the jaws I9 are each provided with atapered hole 8| for the reception of one end of respective levers 32 and 83, the lever 82 being pivotally mounted at 84 and the lever 83 at 85 on the strap H. The said levers 82 and 83 are so mounted that they slant upwardly from the respective holes 81 and cross one another at a point 86 near their inner or top ends.

The said upper ends of the levers 82 and 83 pass through a rectangular opening 81 in a plate 88 slidably mounted between two other plates 89-99 welded to the strap I1. The plates 88, 89 and 90 are provided with alined openings SI for the reception of a bolt 92 pivotally secured at 93 to a hand lever 94 pivoted at 95 on the strap I7. The lower end of the plate 88 has a hole 96 for the reception of a hook 97 attached to a sheave or pulley block 98 having the usual rope or ropes 99 which pass through a lower pulley block I09 having a hook |9| which engages a bail I 02 in engagement at its ends with staple like members I03 and I 94 welded to the strap 2| of the lower brake unit I8.

In practice when erecting the scaffold, the upper units, with the brake shoes or jaws in released or out of locking contact with the posts, are pulled up the posts to the desired height above the lower units, then by moving the lever 94 to the left, the pin or bolt 92 will be withdrawn from the plate 88 and allowing same to be pulled or slid down by the weight of the scaffold on the hook 91. The two levers 82 and 83 which cross in the hole 8'! of the plate 88 will be rocked about their respective pivots to move the shoe engaging ends upwardly and carry the shoes on the inclined slides 89 with them to clamp against the posts. In this position the upper unit is completely braked and the lower unit is then drawn up. This operation is repeated until the scaffold is pulled up to its highest position.

To release the upper brake units so that they may be drawn up, the lower units are first clamped or braked and the scaffold weight released irom the hook 91. Plate 88 is then raised until the bolt 92 can again be inserted into the alined holes 9| by rocking the lever 94 to the right. The upper movement of the plate 88 causes the levers 82 and 83 to be rocked about their pivots to release the jaws or shoes from clamping engagement with the posts.

It is apparent that the mechanism of the present invention provides simple and eiiective construction for at all times maintaining the scaffold in safely locked position upon the posts when men are working thereon, so that there is no danger that accidents may be caused as the result of neglectful operation of the scaffold.

It will also be seen that the brake mechanism of the present invention is just as adaptable for cooperation with elevator cages as it is with scaffolds or any other up and down moving mechanisms. Likewise it will be understood that i. wh n sed; in onnecti "nithe neelevato aca ca ea ds .c dth i s e evat r; arsb cnme, ob .ls iwilla t ame-deaths dra sasho npostthesaidlp sth em neewedeed e se ,thelsid s offt asl ey ith s m kin it. imp s e e. qttqms sit 1 ea r-thee wei ting: rea er h a.soc s gs.tendenc esehetween;;the.,

andcnos v i isv apparent-th t i-t e; illus rati ns *s ew w bov a aveabe pie en l :br; n il Qfi' st ;t n nd no r-w itqf v al i nzaneth zit e a ove examples ...l -i'wi e;.;var etio :and modifi ations.- w thim ezsee e; ii-t eore s. .ent invention; rill-such, an 1d 3 ,tio sare to ewinc usi s H present invention.

. 1. In a s a olcls n inematic a s e e s ida leun n stained-e c n d ne arbra eimemlae r n e na-sia .1: o a brakee n mbe shatin "a h le-ta dem z n t: he-s o zs da ly sneaeineethe said in d p aner-ea ;.V

brake member, an inclined rod imengagementat ppe end wi hs hei nlatfiermatmsnppont its Wfikhta sienterine l-ats tsslowemendat e: brake me erzhole o iorceit e-zsaidsbra smembervupplane an t e. post, :1 a de mea s: i rractuatinesthearenawmove the-brake dawriwardlwlonethe inclined rp aner dgre ease ;s e-:;from i-wedg'i ien aeeem tzwi h t e-mo n a scafinld; in-nombination' with almost;

. ais eve sli able upon Salim D 51 .-.fii\t31ti0n&1fyein 1. c i dslplane, "a bra e :member for engagingwsaid o t --sa d :h akevmembenihaving anholenandw an I 1- 1 1i 1Q 'iS1 ,;:the;:Slot. slidably engagingsthetisaid v inclined plane; Y a;platformipositioned above vithe brake: member; -,an :-:inelined; J'Odze a engagement at it up r e d-W thtm latierml teesnp nr ts We eh 1a ;entri atfit lewensend-stherbr k me h to:;oce1.;t e=;said brake imembe upwar -r 't inel n d .1 n the post, a pivotally:

carrie -bra d e i move the "brake downwa;ndly ongthe;

plane and release same from wedgingeengagea-rment with the -post. v

n a sca q e Qmhl retionawith ail-po as eeve. slid b ezun s id nest,

.c ned ne, a -bra e e post, said bra e-memes avi a =ho1eeanli; ;an

inc d s tt e -;s .tsl

inclined plane, a platform positioned abovesthe brake member an inelined rod in engagement at its upper end with the platform to support its weight andeenterin-gqatwitsdower-enci the brake m m r, ho e. o st r s mt eisa d. brake-l m w upwardly on the inclined ;,plane nd=. .,-.wedge against the post, a pivotally mounted lever, a rotatably. mounted ratehet wheel, =a-release plate n wi h Meli a.

l es tiene eaboveitha dab rsn aei e meshes- 5;

t elsa qii r meimemb sly-ea h:r deadia e t li s-z ower =10 nd: an means or; ctuat es dero s z r-. sl .athe brakesw u Qt inni vengaeerne t-v wi the posts. -znascafio d H CQmb nar o rW in rof eep ,apartz pqsts a ewesli a ly mqimtadeon =;-z.='ahi. o t-said pos s ar fra e in uding a pain -latera y.sp e dga art lower'irame membersfextendi b twe n,l a dasleevesza d firmly-an .eneqtecllthe etqnsaid -es ev sl lea h-sh v are- )...e ssthermal-obliqu y: s idab e-vb ak si arri d y olithe; sa d w-framelmemb s e tendi i war m o :thesaid recesses for-gripping engagement.- ith ,theapos s as ida ep atfiorm a w et e be 11 ansi inte me teiee q s h e sa d-aw ke a .t-,-,h avingl:;an openin s a pairot resilient-, rods 251 e ssl ea to o m c-an X wi h h ri W ;-.en e ga i t e b a e h s a esupporti e; t weight of wthe platformat; their Tupper ends, 1 m ans pivot, y-.-s pno t 1 e h. 1 -d. a.diaae its lower end, a pivota-lly--mounted-.lever1 carried brisa td-l ra ena sl means emanat d by; se idil @511), a sea-fie d, inccombi ation :Wifih a -pa r's of pa partrpes sra sle ve lidab vsmo nted it i- QQ a dx-PQ ts, auf ame includin ae-nair: of terally Spaced. apart lower frame -memb.ersi exridin rib t wg niilsfiid-g sleeves; and firmly: vconeeted thereto; said sleeves "eachhaving :a- V recess herein; obliquely slidable- -brakes carried. by :the aid I-rame members; extending. inwardly.- oft-the aid recesses. for "gripping "engagement with the osts, ar'slidable platformxabovethe brakes and -:intermediate; the posts, 1 the said brakes each ,:.havlng1-;anopening, a pair of. pivotedresilient rods/crossing to form an X with their lower ends engaging? the brake holes A and -supporting-= the -weightf 01fthe platform.- at their upper ends, a ivoti carried by 'the' frame, a-toothed ratchet gwheel :lrotatableonsaid pivot, a release plate radiating onwtwo sides of the pivot carried-by egsaidvratchet wheel, a plate :pivotally -mounted-- on said pivot, a pin on-=said-plate, a spring-pressed ipawl-eon thei said -pin -norma1ly in -engagement with one ofthe ratchet wheelteethga lever-pivotally; mounted on 'the frame-and-provided with -a;. slot.=\f0r engagementvwith the pawl -pin-for os- -icillating the plate and pawl carriedthereby to gbringnthe saida-pawl out ofengagement with one etooth and to engagement Wlth the -neX-t tooth fori-i otatingi the ratchet wheeleand release ate narr-ied thereby as and for the purpose specified. 'Z. Incombinationwith acpair of spacedapart pqsts, a self contained r brake :uni-t :slidi-ngly supi i ll by e S d tch iiewheel, a ple ivot ayportedzontsaid posts, said -unit comprising-apair ally-mounted coaxially wit the ratche heel?" lyof rsleevesone for each .post, a-frame comprising ably molest d: on 7 {upper and lower frame-members firmly connfifitedptq' the: saidw sleeves, ai platformf slidably suppprtedat: thexpuppergendt of the frame; the lower-end of, each of! saidlsleeves: being provided 't-h aerecessya brake membeniextending through eachyqf said recesses. for: clamping engagement 1 h; t e: res a 61 sai zbra e sm mbe sbe bliguelw-slidabl -Cfi12116d vby the;;:lower lira-me m sat e brake; emberseeachihamne reatest) amen b ssesilientsrs smo si ezarea-a6 form an X with their lower ends engaging the brake member holes and their upper ends supportingly engaging the platform, means pivotally supporting each rod adjacent its lower end and means for actuating said rods for sliding the brake members out of gripping engagement with the posts.

8. In combination with a pair of spaced apart posts, a self contained brak unit slidingly supported on said posts, said unit comprising a pair of sleeves one for each post, a frame comprising upper and lower frame members firmly connected to the said sleeves, a platform slidably supported at the upper end of the frame, the lower end of each of said sleeves being provided with a recess, obliquely extending tongues supported on the lower frame members near each sleeve, brake member extending through the sleeve recesses for clamping engagement with the posts and provided with oblique slots for slidable engagement with the said tongues, the said brake members each having a rear hole, a pair of resilient rods crossing to form an X with their lower ends engaging the brake member holes and their upper ends supportingly engaging the platform, means pivotally supporting each rod adjacent its lower end and means for actuating said rods for sliding the brake members out of gripping engagement with the posts.

9. In combination with a pair of spaced apart posts, a self contained brake unit slidingly supported on said posts, said unit comprising a pair of sleeves one for each post, a frame comprising upper and lower frame members firmly connected to said sleeves, a platform extending above the frame intermediate the sleeves, a depending perforated leg near each end of the platform slidable on the frame, the lower end of each of said sleeves being provided with a recess, obliquely extending tongues supported on the lower frame members near each sleeve, brake members extending through the sleeve recesses for clamping engagement with the posts and provided with oblique slots for slidable engagement with the said tongues, the said brake members each having a rear hole, a pair of pivoted resilient rods crossing to form an X with their lower ends engaging the brake member holes and their upper ends extending through the leg perforations and means for actuating said rods for sliding the brake members out of gripping engagement with the posts.

10. In combination with a pair of spaced apart posts, a self contained brake unit slidingly supported on said posts, said unit comprising a pair of sleeves one for each post, a frame comprising upper and lower frame members firmly connected to said sleeves, a platform extending above the frame intermediate the sleeves, a depending perforated leg near each end of the platform, slidable on the frame, the lower end of each of said sleeves being provided with a recess, obliquely extending tongues supported on the lower frame members near each sleeve, brake members extending through the sleeve recesses for clamping engagement with the posts and provided with oblique slots for slidable engagement with the said tongues, the said brake members each having a rear hole, a pair of pivoted resilient rods crossing to form an X with their lower ends engaging the brake member holes and their upper ends extending through the leg perforations and means for actuating said rods for sliding the brake members out of gripping engage- --ment with the posts, said means comprisinga pivot carried b'yff'the frame, a toothed ratchet wheel rotatable on said pivot, a release plate radiating on two sides of the pivot carried by said ratchet wheel, a plate pivotally mounted on said pivot, a pin on said plate, a spring pressed pawl on the said pin normally in engagement with one of the ratchet wheel teeth, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and provided with a slot for engagement with the pawl pin for oscillating the plate and pawl carried thereby to bring the said pawl out of engagement with one tooth and to engagement with the next tooth for rotating the ratchet wheel and release plate carried thereby as and for the purpose specified.

11. In a scaffold having a pair of spaced apart posts, in combination, a lower slidable brake unit on said posts and releasably locked against same,

means for releasing said lower brake unit, a separate upper brake unit carried by and releasably locked against said posts, said upper brake unit beingmovable independently from and relatively to said lower brake unit and means for suspending the lower unit from the upper unit so that the said lower unit may be raised upon the posts when in unlocked position relatively to said upper unit.

12. In a scaffold having a pair of spaced apart posts, in combination, a lower slidable brake unit on said posts and releasably locked against same, means for releasing said brake unit, an upper brake unit carried by and releasably locked against said posts, said upper brake unit comprising a sleeve on each of the posts, the said sleeves each having a cut-out, a member for connecting the said sleeves, inclined slides on the said connecting member near each of the posts, brake shoes on the said slides for engagement with each of the posts, said brake shoes extending through the sleeve cut-outs, a pair of levers pivotally mounted on the said connecting members, said levers normally slanting upwards and crossing each other at their upper ends and engaging thebrake shoes at their lower ends, a plate slidable on the connecting member and having a hole through which the upper ends of the said upwardly slanting levers pass, means for suspending the lower brake unit from said plate, and a movable bolt passing through the said slidable plate.

13. In combination with a device according to claim 7, a second brake unit on said posts above the first mentioned posts, means for releasably clamping said second brake unit on said posts, and means for suspending the first mentioned brake unit from the second mentioned brake unit.

THOMAS G. DI SANTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS France Apr. 5, 1922 

